Guide for trimming hair



Dec. 24, 1963 J. c. QUEEN 3,115,143

I GUIDE FOR TRIMMING HAIR March 18. 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 .9 {il Z 1' 3b25 F l- J'OHN W HIS TORNEY Dec. 24, 1963 J. c. QUEEQ 3,115,143

GUIDE FOR TRIMMING HAIR .Filed March 18, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.JOHN C. QUEEN BY v HI ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,115,143 GUIDE FORTRIMMING HAIR John C. Queen, 8630 Henepin Ave., Niagara Falls, N.Y.Filed Mar. 18, 1960, Ser. No. 16,072 3 Claims. (Cl. 132-45) Thisinvention relates to a device for the control of the utilization of aclipper and particularly in connection with a hair clipper and moreparticularly with a power driven hair clipper.

Power driven clippers of the present day are actuated, in manyinstances, by electricity, which is converted into mechanical operationof the clipper mechanism either by an electric motor or by an electricvibrator. In either case, control of the cliper is highly essential ifsatisfactory results are to be obtained by its use.

Control of the driving mechanism such as an electric motor or anelectric vibrator, is not difiicult to obtain, but control of the mannerin which an electrically driven clipper is applied to a persons head forthe purpose of cutting that persons hair ordinarily requires a highdegree of skill arrived at only after much practice and experience. Inthe hands of an experienced barber, an electric clipper as an innocuousdevice, but when applied by an unskilled person it can produce veryundesirable results.

Trouble is not usually encountered if an unskilled person uses anelectric clipper to produce a uniformly clipped head of haid; that is,one on which no tapering or feathering of the hair has been attempted.Most people desire that their hair be uniformly tapered or featheredfrom the neckline to the back of the head and from the temples to thetop of the head. It is in such cases that the tyre or novice producesresults that leave much to be desired.

To obtain uniform tapering or feathering necessary for satisfactoryresults, the experienced barber uses a comb to act as a sort of gauge,but more particularly, he is in possession of the ability to apply theclipper in arcuate strokes that begin with the teeth of the clipperclose to the scalp and move further and away from the scalp as theclipper is moved upwardly with respect to the head of the one whose hairis being cut. Such arcuate strokes are produced by the experiencedbarber by his holding and moving the clipper in such a manner that atthe end of a stroke the cutter portion of the clipper has moved awayfrom the scalp and the opposite end of the clipper has remained aboutthe same distance away or has moved toward the head of the customer.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a device that willenable the user to cut hair with an electric clapper so that it issmoothly tapered or feathered from the neckline and from the temples.Moreover, it is an object of this invention to provide means forpositive control of the stroke of the hair-clipper as it is applied tothe hair of a persons head, in order that there may be no abruptdifferences in the length of the hair anywhere on the head because ofthe action of the clipper.

This invention utilizes the discovery that although the skilled barberapplies the clipper in arcuate strokes whereby the longitudinal axis ofthe clipper is moved along the arcuate path in a clockwise direction, aguide that causes the clipper to move, not as the barber moves it but insuch a manner that the cutter portion of the clipper moves away fromclose proximity to the scalp while the opposite end of the clipper movesin a counter clockwise direction along a curve whose shape is dependentupon the shape of the head of the person whose hair is being cut,enables one without the skill of a trained barber to cut hair in ahighly satisfactory way. Examples of such guides are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings and described in this specification.

In the drawings, which are provided to illustrate the inventiondescribed herein,

FIGURE 1 is a plan View of one modification of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 22 of FIGURE 1 exceptthat no handle is included;

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a view in orthographic projection incorporating a hairclipper and the modification of the present invention illustrated in thefigures identified above:

FIGURE 5 is a view in orthographic projection illustrating amodification of the four-faced channel or box member illustrated in thepreviously mentioned FIGURES 1-4.

FIGURE 6 is a view in orthographic projection illustrating amodification of a comb body adapted for use with a guide frame such asthat illustrated in FIGURE 5 and described herein.

In FIGURE 1 there is illustrated a guide frame 1 comprising twogirder-like four-faced channel or box members 2 and 3 with one face 2aof one channel 2 and one face 3a of the other channel 3 adjacent andheld in parallel relationship by cross members 4 and 5 attached at theends thereof. The said adjacent faces 2a and 3a of the channel or boxmembers hereinafter sometimes being referred to as plates webs or webmembers.

Shown in engagement with the guide frame 1 in FIG- URE 1 is a coarsecomb 6 having a plurality of teeth 7 whose position with respect to thefour-faced channel or box members 2 and 3 is controlled by lugs 8 and 9projecting from said comb.

Also illustrated in FIGURE 1 is a handle 10 attached to one girder-likechannel or box member 2 by a tapered lug 11 engaging a receptacle 12 onthe said channel or box member. The handle 10 can be removed from onechannel or box member 2 and attached to the other channel or box member3 by pulling the tapered lug 11 out of the receptacle 12 on the saidchannel or box member and inserting it in the receptacle 13 on the otherchannel or box member 3. The handle 10, in addition to being removable,also is adjustable as to position by virtue of its being fastened to thetapered lug 11 by a bolt 14 and wing nut 15.

FIGURES 2 and 3 illustrate other details of the device of the presentinvention. FIGURE 2 shows the lugs 8 and 9, which project from the comb6, to be in engagement with the contiguous under surfaces 21 and 22,respectively, of the upper elements 2b and 3b of the four-faced channelor box members 2 and 3. FIGURE 3 shows that the lugs 8 and 9 are insliding engagement with the under sides of those elements.

FIGURE 3 also illustrates the means by which the comb 6 and the hairclipper 31 to which it is attached by the spring clip 32 are guided intodilferent angular relationships with the guide frame 1. The meanstherein illustrated being a slot 33 extending in a generallylongitudinal but upwardly sloping direction with respect to the web 2aof the channel or box member 2. As illustrated, the slope of the slot 33is not uniform, but, on the contrary, has zero slope at its lowermostsection 34. Also as illustrated, the slot 33 has a diversionary entrance35, which has two slopes that differ radically from each other and fromthat of the generally upward direction of the slot 33.

FIGURE 5 illustrates a modification in which the guide frame 51comprises two three-element girder-like channel members 52 and 53 heldtogether with their web members 52a and 53a adjacent and in parallelrelationship by cross members 54 and 55 attached thereto at therespective ends of said channel members.

The guide frame 51 illustrated in FIGURE 5 shows a slot 56 in the web52a of the channel member 52 on the left and another slot 57 in the web53a of the channel 3 member 53 on the right. The two slots are of thesame size and configuration and are positioned directly opposite eachother. They extend in a generally longitudinal direction with respect tothe channel webs 52a and 53a, but digress from a true longitudinaldirection and approach the corresponding edges of the said webs. Thus,the slots 56 and 57 are in parallel plates 52a and 53a and are parallelin all respects.

FiGURE 6 illustrates a form of comb 61 adapted for use with the guideframe 51 illustrated in FIGURE 5. As illustrated, it comprises a baseportion 62 having a spring clip 63 fastened thereto for attachment ofthe comb 61 to the clipper, and a serrated portion 64 integrally joinedthereto at an angle. Projecting from one edge 65 of the serrated portion64 is shown a lug 66, which can be formed as an integral part of theserrated body 64 or can be attached thereto in the manner illustratedwith respect to the lug 67 at the opposite end of the comb. That lug 67is illustrated as having a hole 68 through the center of its hub 76 toaccommodate a screw 69 and as having a half-hub 70 at the inner face toengage with a similar half-hub 71 formed on the adjacent face of thetooth '73. The lug 67 is fastened to the serrated body 64 by the screw69 entering the threaded hole 72 in the tooth 73 and drawing the lug 67into tight engagement with the tooth 73, whereby the ridge 70 of the lug67 locks with the slot 71 and prevents any rotation of the lug 67 withrespect to the comb 61.

The purpose in having one of the lugs 66 and 67 detachable from the combbody 61 is to permit easy engagement of the comb body 61 with the guideframe 51. The comb body 61 illustrated in FIGURE 6 is put into operativeunion with the guide frame 51 by inserting the lug 66 on the right ofthe serrated body 64 into the slot 57 in the right hand girder-likechannel member 52 with the free end 74 of the lug 66 directed upwardlyand then turning the comb body 61 to bring the hole 72 into registerwith the slot 56 in the left hand girder-like channel 52 of the guideframe 51 and then inserting the end of the lug 67 through the slot 56and into engagement with the serrated body 64. The screw 69 is thenpassed through the hole 68 in the lug 67 and into the threaded hole 72in the tooth 73 and drawn up to bring the lug 67 into firm engagementwith said tooth. When the comb body 61 is so positioned with respect tothe guide frame 51, applying an upward push, that is, upward withrespect to the guide frame 51 as it is shown in FIGURE 5, will cause thesaid body to rotate about the axis 76 passing through the hub 77 of thelug 67 and on through the hub 78 of the lug 66 until the free edges 74and 75' of the lugs 66 and 67, respectively, engage the contiguousflanges 79 and 80, respectively, of the channel members 51 and 52,respectively. When they so engage the flanges and the comb body 61 ispushed further, the said free edges of the said lugs remain in contactwith the flanges 79 and 8t) and slide thereon while the comb body 61rotates counter clockwise about the axis 76 running through the centersof the hubs 77 and 78 of the lugs 67 and 66, respectively.

The various parts of the invention illustrated and described herein aresuch that they can be formed or fabricated from readily availablematerials. For example, the guide frames can be formed from sheet metalof suitable thickness to provide the necessary degree of rigidity andstrength, and the comb bodies can be made of metal, such as aluminum ormagnesium, or of a suitable plastic, of which there are many kindsavailable. They can be formed by any of well known processes, such asmolding, casting or machining. The latter method probably would be tooexpensive for general use.

The lugs forming a part of the comb body, and which 4 perform animportant function in the guidance of the clipper, can be of rigid metalor of one that has a suitable springiness.

To use the present invention to its fullest extent there may be requiredguide frames and combs of different sizes, but the various sizes willhave the same general characteristics as have been described. A guideframe of rather short length and with a small rise, from bottom to top,of the slots in the girder-like box or channel members will be requiredfor use at the temples and at the back of the head adjacent to the neck.

The device of the present invention is very easy to use on both adultsand children, and, with little or no previous experience, a person canproduce a thoroughly workmanlike hair cut.

To use the present invention, the comb 6 or 61 is attached to theclipper 31 by the spring clip 32 or 63 and engaged with the appropriateguide frame 1 or 51 by means of the lugs of the comb corresponding tothe guide frame being used. If the type of guide frame shown in FIGURE 3is being used, a comb having lugs as shown in FIGURE 2 can be usedbecause of the open ends of the slots.

In any case, as the clipper is pushed forward along the guide frame theengagement of the lugs with the undersides of the upper flanges of thatguide frame causes the teeth of the comb to contact and move along thescalp, whereby the hairs are brought into upstanding positions to be cutoff at predetermined lengths by the cutters of the clipper.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

A new article of manufacture comprising a comb removeably afifixed to ahair clipper, means to move the comb and clipper through a series ofdifferent angular relationships with respect to the scalp being shorn,whereby the angle between the scalp and the comb and clipper increasesas the comb and clipper are advanced, said means comprising a flangedplate having therein a slot extending in a generally longitudinal butupwardly sloping direction with respect to the flange of said plate, anda lug projecting from said comb into said slot and into slidingengagement with the underside of the aforesaid flange.

2. The new article of manufacture defined in claim 1 in which the meansto move the comb affixed to a clipper through a series of differentangular relationships with respect to the scalp being shorn comprises apair of flanged plates, each plate having therein a slot extending in agenerally longitudinal but upwardly sloping direction with respect tothe flanges of said plates, the said pair of plates being held inparallel relationship by cross members attached thereto.

3. The new article of manufacture defined in claim 1 in which the meansto move the comb afiixed to a clipper through a series of differentangular relationships with respect to the scalp being shorn comprises apair of flanged plates, each plate having therein a slot extending in agenerally longitudinal but upwardly sloping direction with respect tothe flanges of said plates, the said pair of plates being held inparallel relationship and with the slots positioned directly oppositeeach other in all respects by cross members attached thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,708,942 Fiddyment May 24, 1955 2,765,797 Potente Oct. 9, 19562,915,070 Benson Dec. 1, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 560,041 France June 28,1923

1. A NEW ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE COMPRISING A COMB REMOVEABLY AFFIXED TOA HAIR CLIPPER, MEANS TO MOVE THE COMB AND CLIPPER THROUGH A SERIES OFDIFFERENT ANGULAR RELATIONSHIPS WITH RESPECT TO THE SCALP BEING SHORN,WHEREBY THE ANGLE BETWEEN THE SCALP AND THE COMB AND CLIPPER INCREASESAS THE COMB AND CLIPPER ARE ADVANCED, SAID MEANS COMPRISING A FLANGEDPLATE HAVING THEREIN A SLOT EXTENDING IN A GENERALLY LONGITUDINAL BUTUPWARDLY SLOPING DIRECTION WITH RESPECT TO THE FLANGE OF SAID PLATE, ANDA LUG PROJECTING FROM SAID COMB INTO SAID SLOT AND INTO SLIDINGENGAGEMENT WITH THE UNDERSIDE OF THE AFORESAID FLANGE.